About the contest:
This contest is based on the internet phenomenon of dancers (and amateurs) dancing to a Vocaloid composition (digitally processed vocal technology… read more >> ), usually uploaded onto Youtube. Based on this method, contestants may film themselves dancing to a Vocaloid song, and all submissions are taken in as uploaded online video format. The videos will be hosted in a tab of J-POP SUMMIT Festival Facebook page.. Here, all viewers could watch the videos, interact, and follow the submission updates. The chosen finalists will come to compete on main stage at the J-POP SUMMIT Festival 2012. (SOLO: Saturday, July 27 and GROUP: Sunday, July 28) This year’s judges will decide who will take home the grand prize!

Our Judges:●FLORENCE
2012 Vocaloid Dance Contest Champion
Florence is the 2012 Vocaloid Dance Contest Champion. Since about age 14, Florence has been dancing to Vocaloid, anime, and Japanese idol songs, as well as other styles of music, and posting dance covers on Youtube. The 2012 Vocaloid Dance Competition is the first performance that Florence has ever done on a stage, in front of a big audience. Although dancing is one of Florence’s most favorite things to do, the dancer also finds other activities enjoyable, such as cosplaying, singing, voice acting, drawing comic books, playing video games, and pretending to be a ninja.

●Tiffany Fujii
2011 Vocaloid Dance Contest Champion
Tiffany Fujii has been dancing online on Nico Nico Douga in the “Odottemita” scene since early 2008 and has been performing since 2010 around the bay area at different J-pop/Anime related venues including J-Pop Summit Festival 2 years ago for the Vocaloid Dance Contest which she won first place and danced with Danceroid. The songs that she dances to usually consist of Japanese idol songs, songs that come from Nico Nico Douga, Vocaloid songs, game songs and anime songs.

●Aaron Webber (SEGA)
Aaron works at video game company SEGA (yes, just like the SEGA Genesis) as an Associate Brand Manager. He’s currently among the team pushing to support the release of Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F, the first Hatsune Miku console game in the West. A SEGA fan from a young age, he left everything behind him and traveled to California to pursue his dream of working at the company. He also works on SEGA’s popular Sonic the Hedgehog series, and in the past, has worked on much-loved franchises Valkyria Chronicles and Yakuza. Some days, rumor has it he spins a giant, plush leek around in the office while humming “Levan Polka”.

More info on judges coming very soon!

※※※ SUBMISSION CLOSED ※※※Participate:
You do not have to be a pro to join this contest. We rather look for your hard practiced moves and your enthusiasm! If you want to participate, please follow the strict guidelines below!

RULES:▶ Submit as:
You can be an individual or a group. You can submit to BOTH.

▶ Competing in BOTH solo & group:
If submitting to both, please submit separately as a separate entity, and please do not dance to the same song in both submissions.

▶ Song or Composition:
Any Vocaloid music/songs apply, (song length maximum 6 minutes. Please only use vocaloid composition originally composed as a vocaloid song. Please DO NOT convert any given song into a vocaloid composition to use for our video submission. If your song is in question of qualification, please email contact@j-pop.com so this year’s contest judges can approve.
*Please make sure it is REALLY the song you want to use before you ask this question.

▶ Song file: wav, aiff, m4a formats
If you are chosen to be the finalists, you need to prepare your own song file and email or send the song file to us (see below)** If song file is not delivered by due date, you are disqualified (please do not convert any files from mp3 – that defeats the purpose of having good quality)

▶ Video Quality:
The video performance doesn’t need to be in your final costume, and the sound and visual quality of the video is NOT at review for qualification

*if you are a group, please include info for all members on the same email

▶ Finalists:8 Finalists (8 solo and 8 group finalists) will be chosen by J-POP programming committee, although we will view “comments” and the number of “likes” on the Facebook contest tab as reference as well.

▶ Be Here:
Must be able to attend the festival in Japantown on the contest you desire to take part in.SOLO: Saturday, July 27GROUP: Sunday, July 28
Or Both days

6/28 Wed 5pm PST: Song files and signed parental permission form (minors only) need to be delivered to us** (if you do not make this deadline – you will be disqualified)

Beginning of JULY: Finalists will be publicly announced

*Once you qualify, you will receive further information from the Stage Manager.
** Email your song file to Contest@j-pop.com, OR postal mail it on a CD to:
Mika Anami (J-POP SUMMIT 2013)
1746 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
NO LATER THAN 6/28 Wednesday 5pm PST or you will be disqualified from the finals.
***Champions: If you win your competition, you will be invited to be a judge at the next year’s competition. You will not be able to compete the following year, as you are participating as a judge.